To James Madison from William Jarvis, 16 April 1807

Least you should not have received the advice [s]ooner from any other quarter, I have the honor to inclose to you [a] copy of a Circular from Mr Lear [d]ated 1st: March announcing [the] very agreeable intelligence [of] an amicable settlement of [the] differences between the U. S & [the] Bey & Regency of Tunis. Since [th]is affair has terminated as it has, it was fortu[na]te that I did not make public [the] Circular of Captn. Campbell, as mentioned in mine of the 22 Jany. [Ha]d I made it public, it certainly [w]ould have proved very injurious [to] our Commerce for a month [or] six weeks at least & prevented the many beneficial freights th[at] our vessels have obtained.

I am happy to find by the Presidents message of the 19 feb[y]. that Burr’s expedition was at [an] end. Since his plans have thus terminat[ed] I am glad the attempt was ma[de] It would certainly tend to strengthen Government, did it want any ai[d,] but it will at all events have the beneficial effect of convincing th[e] world of the attachment of our Cou[n]trymen to the Constitution, Laws [&] Government of our Country. For when a Man of Mr. Burr’s talents[,] intrigue, address & supposed Milita[ry] Knowledge, with the advantages wh[ich] his high public stations, might [na]turally be supposed to give them, [can] only collect to-gether a hundred [] ignorant boys & young Men, in [aid] of his scheme, & there is the greatest [pro]bability that even those would not have joined him had they been aware of his views, it mus[t] afford the most undeniable [evi]dence, of the stability of the Gove[rn]ment & the disposition of the people to defend it against the seditious projects of all persons whatever.

A report has prevailed here of an expedition of about 7,000 troops having sailed from Sicily, for what quarter is not Known, but Egypt is surmised.

By the Columbia I forwarded a packet from Mr Erving. With Entire Respect I have the honor to be Sir Yr. Mo: Ob: Servt.